Backlight assembly

ABSTRACT

A backlight assembly includes a plurality of optical sheets, a frame for housing the plurality of optical sheets and a light unit, the frame having a guide portion positioned along a first side of the frame positioned from an end portion of the frame by a first distance, the guide portion having a guide hole positioned to correspond to a hole through a portion of the frame, an open upper portion positioned along a lateral direction opposing the guide hole, and an overlapping portion overlapping the guide hole to form a boundary of the open upper portion, a first wire connected to a first end of the lamp unit and inserted through the guide hole of the guide portion and the hole through the portion of the frame to be overlapped by the overlapping portion, and a second wire connected to a second end of the lamp unit and inserted through the open upper portion and the guide hole.

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/847,999, filed May 19, 2004, which is hereby incorporated byreference. The present invention also claims the benefit of KoreanPatent Application No. 35576/2003, filed in Korea on Jun. 3, 2003, whichis hereby incorporated by reference

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device,and more particularly, to a backlight assembly and an LCD device havinga backlight assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, different types of flat type display devices are used inportable telephones, computer monitors, and television sets because oftheir excellent visibility and lower consumption power, and have heatemission amounts similar to cathode ray tube (CRT) device of the samescreen size. The different types of flat type display devices includeplasma display panel (PDP) devices, field emission display (FED)devices, and LCD devices.

In the LCD devices, a liquid crystal material, which includes liquidcrystal molecules, is injected between two thin glass substrates thathave specially treated surfaces. The arrangement of the liquid crystalmolecules is varied by an induced electric field generated by electrodesthat are disposed on facing surfaces of the two thin glass substrates inorder to display images. However, since the LCD devices are not selflight emitting devices, a light source, such as a lamp unit, is requiredfor displaying the images on an image screen. For example, a backlightassembly is commonly used as the light source provided at the rear of anLCD module device that is used as an image display unit of portablecomputer devices, such as notebook computers and laptop computers.

FIG. 1 is a schematic construction view of an LCD module deviceaccording to the related art, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective viewof region A of FIG. 1 according to the related art. In FIG. 1, an LCDmodule device includes a liquid crystal panel 110 for displaying images,a backlight assembly 120 installed at the rear of the LCD panel 110 tofunction as a light source for the LCD panel 110, and arectangular-framed metal chassis 130 for supporting and affixing the LCDpanel 110 and the backlight assembly 120.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the backlight assembly 120 includes a diffusersheet 121, a plurality of prism sheets 122 and 123, a light guide plate123, a reflector sheet 125, and a rectangular plastic mold frame 126 forinstalling a light-source lamp unit 127 along one side corner thereof.The mold frame 126 houses and sequentially layers the diffuser sheet121, the prism sheets 122 and 123, the light guide plate 124, and thereflector sheet 125 therein. In general, the diffuser sheet 121, theprism sheets 122 and 123, the light guide plate 124, and the reflectorsheet 125 comprise optical sheets.

A wire 128, which includes low-voltage and high-voltage wires 128 a and128 b, are electrically connected with both ends of the lamp unit 127 tosupply an external power source to the lamp unit 127. In addition, anoutlet portion 126 b and a housing groove 126 a are disposed alongone-side frame of the mold frame 126, which installs the lamp unit 127thereat. The outlet portion 126 b supports and feeds the low-voltage andhigh-voltage wires 128 a and 128 b through the mold frame 126. Thehousing groove 126 a houses and guides the low-voltage and high-voltagewires 128 a and 128 b to the outlet portion 126 b, wherein the outletportion 126 b has an opened upper portion 130.

In FIG. 2, the outlet portion 126 b is spaced away by a predetermineddistance (L) from any one end of the mold frame 126. The low-voltage andhigh-voltage wires 128 a and 128 b are bent at mold frame 126 regionsthat respectively correspond to the outlet portion 126 b and the bothends of the lamp unit 127. However, the structure of the outlet portion126 b installed along the one-side frame of the mold frame 126 isproblematic since the low-voltage wire 128 a and/or the high-voltagewire 128 b must released through the opened upper portion 130 of theoutlet portion 126 b. Thus, any pulling force applied to either of thelow-voltage wire 128 a and/or the high-voltage wire 128 b may result indamage to the low-voltage and/or high-voltage wires 128 a and 128 b, thelamp unit 127, and/or the mold frame 126.

FIG. 3 is a schematic construction view of another LCD module deviceaccording to the related art, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective viewof region B of FIG. 3 according to the related art. In FIG. 3, an LCDmodule device includes a liquid crystal panel 310 for displaying images,a backlight assembly 320 installed at a rear of the LCD panel 310 tofunction as a light source for the LCD panel 310, and arectangular-framed metal chassis 330 for supporting and affixing the LCDpanel 310 and the backlight assembly 320.

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the backlight assembly 320 includes a diffusersheet 321, a plurality of prism sheets 322 and 323, a light guide plate323, a reflector sheet 325, and a rectangular plastic mold frame 326 forinstalling a light-source lamp unit (not shown) along one side cornerthereof. The mold frame 326 houses and sequentially layers the diffusersheet 321, the prism sheets 322 and 323, the light guide plate 324, andthe reflector sheet 325 therein. In general, the diffuser sheet 321, theprism sheets 322 and 323, the light guide plate 324, and the reflectorsheet 325 comprise optical sheets.

A wire 328, which includes low-voltage and high-voltage wires 328 a and328 b, are electrically connected with both ends of the lamp unit tosupply an external power source to the lamp unit. In addition, onesupport 329 is combined along a one-side frame of the mold frame 326 tobe detachable along a vertical direction where the low-voltage andhigh-voltage wires 328 a and 328 b are fixedly supported by the support329. Accordingly, the low-voltage and high-voltage wires 328 a and 328 bcan be installed at the mold frame 326 in a stable manner.

In FIG. 4, an insertion groove 326 c for wire outlet is integrallyprovided for one-side frame of the mold frame 326 that installs a lampunit (not shown) thereat. The support 329 is fitted into the insertiongroove 326 c of the mold frame 326 with the low-voltage and high-voltagewires 328 a and 328 b. The support 329 includes a body 329 a having athrough hole 329 c through which the low-voltage and high-voltage wires328 a and 328 b can pass; and a hook fragment 329 b protruded from alower portion of the body 329 a. Accordingly, the low-voltage andhigh-voltage wires 328 a and 328 b can be supported in a stable mannerand passed through at a wire outlet position of the mold frame 326.Thus, it does not matter that the insertion groove 326 c is provided atthe end of the mold frame 326, but the insertion groove 326 c can bespaced away by a predetermined distance from the end of the mold frame,as described above.

In addition, the insertion groove 326 c is opened at an upper portionsuch that the wires 328 can be inserted and pass through along front andrear directions of the support 329. Although not shown, a hook jaw canbe provided at a lower portion of the insertion groove 326 c to allowthe insertion groove 326 c to be detachably combined with the support329 via a hook fragment 329 b. Accordingly, the body 329 a of thesupport 329 is inserted through upper opening of the insertion groove326 c while the hook fragment 329 b is elastically hooked and combinedto the hook jaw (not shown), which is disposed at the lower portion ofthe insertion groove 326 c.

According to the structures of FIGS. 3 and 4, which include separatesupports for fixedly supporting the wire for the lamp unit, the supportis inserted into and combined to the insertion groove to allow thestable combination of the wire on the mold frame and to prevent the wirefrom being released at an outlet position. However, the structures haveincreased manufacture costs is due to their required separate supports.In addition, manufacturing processes are complicated due to theinsertion groove and the installation of the support thereinto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a backlight assemblyand an LCD device having a backlight assembly that substantially obviateone or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the relatedart.

An object of the present invention is to provide a backlight assemblyhaving an improved lamp-wire installation structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide an LCD device having abacklight assembly with an improved lamp-wire installation structure.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a backlightassembly includes a plurality of optical sheets, a frame housing theplurality of optical sheets and a light unit, the frame having a guideportion positioned along a first side of the frame positioned from anend portion of the frame by a first distance, the guide portion having aguide hole positioned to correspond to a hole through a portion of theframe, an open upper portion positioned along a lateral directionopposing the guide hole, and an overlapping portion overlapping theguide hole to form a boundary of the open upper portion, a first wireconnected to a first end of the light unit and inserted through theguide hole of the guide portion and the hole through the portion of theframe to be overlapped by the overlapping portion, and a second wireconnected to a second end of the light unit and inserted through theopen upper portion and the guide hole.

In another aspect, a liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystalpanel for displaying images thereon, a plurality of optical sheetspositioned at a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel, a framehousing the plurality of optical sheets and a light unit, the framehaving a guide portion positioned along a first side of the framepositioned from an end portion of the frame by a first distance, theguide portion having a guide hole positioned to correspond to a holethrough a portion of the frame, an open upper portion positioned along alateral direction opposing the guide hole, and an overlapping portionoverlapping the guide hole to form a boundary of the open upper portion,a chassis supporting and affixing the liquid crystal panel and theframe, a first wire connected to a first end of the light unit andinserted through the guide hole of the guide portion and the holethrough the portion of the frame to be overlapped by the overlappingportion, and a second wire connected to a second end of the light unitand inserted through the open upper portion and the guide hole.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic construction view of an LCD module deviceaccording to the related art;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of region A of FIG. 1 accordingto the related art;

FIG. 3 is a schematic construction view of another LCD module deviceaccording to the related art;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of region B of FIG. 3 accordingto the related art;

FIG. 5 is a schematic construction view of an exemplary LCD moduledevice according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of region C of FIG. 5 accordingto the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 5 is a schematic construction view of an exemplary LCD moduledevice according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an enlargedperspective view of region C of FIG. 5 according to the presentinvention. In FIG. 5, an LCD module may include an LCD panel 510 fordisplaying images, a backlight assembly 520 may be provided at a rearside of the LCD panel 510 to function as a light source for the LCDpanel 510, and a rectangular-framed metal chassis 530 for supporting andaffixing the LCD panel 510 and the backlight assembly 520.

In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the backlight assembly 520 may include a diffusersheet 521, a plurality of prism sheets 522 and 523, a light guide plate523, and a reflector sheet 525, and a rectangular plastic mold frame 526for positioning a light-source lamp unit 527 along a side cornerthereof. Alternatively, the backlight assembly may include additionoptical sheets, such as optical wave plates and various optical filters.The mold frame 526 may house and sequentially layer the diffuser sheet521, the prism sheets 522 and 523, the light guide plate 524, and thereflector sheet 525. For example, the diffuser sheet 521, the prismsheets 522 and 523, the light guide plate 524, and the reflector sheet525 may be made of optical sheet material.

A wire 528, which may include low-voltage and high-voltage wires 528 aand 528 b, is electrically connected to ends of the lamp unit 527 tosupply an external power source to the lamp unit 527 via a connector529. In addition, a guide portion 526 b and a housing groove 526 a maybe disposed along a one-side frame portion of the mold frame 526, whichmay function to install the lamp unit 527 thereat. Accordingly, theguide portion 526 b may support and pass through the low-voltage andhigh-voltage wires 528 a and 528 b at one point of the mold frame 526.The housing groove 526 a may house and guide the low-voltage andhigh-voltage wires 528 a and 528 b to the guide portion 526 b. The guideportion 526 b may be spaced away by a distance (L) from an end portionof the mold frame 526. Accordingly, the low-voltage and high-voltagewires 528 a and 528 b may be configured to have a bend at regions of themold frame 526 that respectively correspond to the guide portion 526 band the ends of the lamp unit 527. Alternatively, the guide portion 526b may be located more toward the end portion of the mold frame 526 toreduce the distance (L).

In FIG. 6, a guide hole 526 c may be laterally provided from the guideportion 526 b opposing an open upper portion 526 d of the mold frame526. In addition, the mold frame 526 may include an overlapping portion526 e that overlaps the guide hole 526 c and forms a lateral boundary ofthe open upper portion 526 d. In addition, the guide hole 526 c mayextend through the mold frame 526. Accordingly, the low-voltage wire 528a may be electrically connected to one of the ends of the lamp unit 527,and may be positioned within the guide hole 526 c and along the housinggroove 526 a. In addition, the low-voltage wire 528 a may be insertedthrough the guide hole 526 c of the guide portion 526 b and may beoverlapped by the overlapping portion 526 e. Similarly, the high-voltagewire 528 b may be electrically connected to the other end of the lampunit 527 and positioned within and along the housing groove 526 a. Inaddition, the high-voltage wire 528 b may be inserted through the guidehole 526 c of the guide portion 526 b in parallel with the low-voltagewire 528 a to be positioned within the open upper portion 526 d.According to the present invention, the low-voltage wire 528 a isinserted at an internal side of the guide portion 526 b. Thus, thelow-voltage wire 528 a may have a longer outlet length than thehigh-voltage wire 528 b. Accordingly, the low-voltage wire 528 a mayhave a longer outlet portion from the guide portion 526 b than thehigh-voltage wire 528 b.

Accordingly to the present invention, when an external tensile force issupplied to the low-voltage and high-voltage wires 528 a and 528 b, theapplied tensile force may act entirely on the high-voltage wire 528 band only along one direction since the low-voltage wire 528 a has thelonger outlet length than the high-voltage wire 528 b. As a result, thehigh-voltage wire 528 b may be prevented from being released out throughthe opened upper portion of the guide portion 526 b. In addition, thelow-voltage wire 528 a may be inserted into the guide hole 526 c andretained along all x, y, and z coordinate directions such that thelow-voltage wire 528 a may be prevented from being released out throughthe opened upper portion 526 d of the guide portion 526 b. According tothe present invention, manufacturing costs may be reduced andmanufacturing processes may be simplified since separate additionalsupport units may not be needed.

An exemplary assembly process according to the present invention, withreference to FIG. 6, may include installation of a lamp unit 527 along aside frame portion of the mold frame 526. Then, low-voltage andhigh-voltage wires 528 a and 528 b, which may be electrically connectedto ends of the lamp unit 527, may be inserted into and along a housinggroove 526 a provided along the side frame portion of the mold frame526. Next, the low-voltage wire 528 a may be inserted into an internallybent lateral portion of a guide portion 526 b through an opened upperportion 526 d of the guide portion 526 b. Then, the high-voltage wire528 b may be inserted downward through the opened upper portion 526 d ofthe guide portion 526 b. The guide portion 526 b may be positioned closeto an end of the lamp unit 527, wherein the low-voltage wire 528 a mayhave a first length greater than a length of the high-voltage wire 528b.

According to the present invention, a guide portion may be installedclosely to an end portion of a lamp unit, and a guide hole may beprovided for the guide portion along with an open upper portion, whereina lateral portion may be internally bent at a depth such that a firstwire, which may be connected to a first end of the lamp unit, may beinserted into the guide hole, and a second wire, which may be connectedto a second end of the lamp unit, may be intactly inserted downwardthrough the opened upper portion. Accordingly, when an external tensileforce is supplied to the first and second wires, the tensile force mayonly act on the first wire connected to the first end of the lamp unitalong a lateral direction, thereby preventing the first and second wiresfrom being released.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the backlight assembly and aLCD device having a backlight assembly of the present invention. Thus,it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A backlight assembly, comprising: a plurality of optical sheets; alight unit; a frame housing the plurality of optical sheets and thelight unit, the frame having a guide portion positioned along a firstside of the frame, the guide portion having a guide hole through theframe, an open upper portion positioned at a lateral end of the guidehole; a first wire connected to a first end of the light unit anddisposed through the guide hole of the guide portion; and a second wireconnected to a second end of the light unit and disposed through theguide hole of the guide portion at a position laterally aligned with theopen upper portion.